Utilities and a consumer group largely favor the state's proposed changes in the way it will implement a federal rule to reduce haze, but environmental groups oppose it, according to comments submitted to the state.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality denied C&amp;H Hog Farms an operating permit in part because the company did not conduct a study on the flow direction of groundwater or develop an emergency action plan, according to the department's responses to public comments on the permit application.

Priorities include tourism increase

The state committee devoted to caring for the Buffalo River sent its first report to Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson this week, outlining the priorities of the committee and the state agencies its members run.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Arkansas' plan to implement part of a federal rule designed to enhance visibility in national wilderness areas, the agency announced Monday, but it won't change utilities' plans for complying with the rule.

A new tariff on imported solar products is expected to raise the price of solar projects in the United States and potentially curb demand, but shouldn’t prevent solar power from continuing its fast-paced growth, solar officials in Arkansas said last week.